The Edward Showler Foundation

14/10/2026

Vic Fest 2026 Raises over £3,000 to fund Clear Cell Sarcoma Research 🧡

Vic Fest 2026 was a great success with lovely food, plenty to drink, good music and a wonderful friendly atmosphere. The celebrations started at lunchtime and went on until late in the evening.

We would like to thank Linda and Steve for supporting Ed’s Foundation for the 3rd year running and to thank those attending, or who otherwise donated, for their kindness and generosity in raising over £3,000 so far to fund research into Clear Cell Sarcoma. This again is another record beating the amount raised in the previous 2-years.

Thank you for your support. If you haven’t donated, but would still like to do so, then please use the link here:

For the third year running Linda and Steve are holding a late summer Festival in their garden at the Old Vicarage, Teynham to raise funds for Ed’s Foundation.

12/10/2026

In memory of Jan O’Leary 🧡

Jan sadly died of Clear Cell Sarcoma on the 30th September 2026 at the age of 67 years. For her celebration of life service, Jan has asked that donations be made to the Edward Showler Foundation, rather than buying flowers.

Jan was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma in 2024 after a trip to Florence, following which, Jan had her left leg, and part of her hip and pelvis amputated, spending 5-months in hospital recovering from her surgery.

On returning home, Jan adapted to her limited mobility with her usual zest for life and despite set-backs, she would always squeeze the most out of every day. Jan was a one-off, who made a huge impact upon anyone who met her.

Unless Clear Cell Sarcoma is caught very early, it has a tendency to metastasise and insidiously spread to other areas of the body. Sadly, this happened to Jan and she was readmitted to hospital in April.

When Jan was told, just a few weeks ago that they had found tumours on her spine she said to a neighbour that “she was lucky as Clear Cell Sarcoma normally affects children.” Her good fortune was being able to live a good life, albeit cut short, whereas a child would not have had this opportunity. A very special lady.

Jan, in her own words, lived a “rock and roll” life. She was an inspirational and lovely lady who had so much more living to do. Her life was cut short by a disease that has no effective treatment because, up until now it has been little researched.

If you would like to donate to remember Jan and to support research into Clear Cell Sarcoma you can do so via the link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/inmemoryofjanoleary

04/09/2026

Tom and Laura Ridout-Beeson are raising funds for Ed’s Foundation to support Clear Cell Sarcoma research. Tom and Laura have a life long friend who was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma last year and is another young person to be affected by this awful disease.

Tom and Laura are undertaking two challenges to raise funds to support Harriet. Tom is walking the Cotswolds Way and Tom and Laura are both running the Lincolnshire 10 kilometres in Gainsborough on the 1st November 2026.

Tom will be walking the 100 mile Cotswolds Way in just 24 hours, starting his walk in Bath at 6pm on the 26th September and finishing in his home town of Chipping Camden at 6pm on the following day.

Tom has set himself an ambitious, tough challenge that will require him walking at an average speed of over 4 mph. This is an amazing fund raiser and Tom deserves all the help and support we can give him. 🧡

You can support Tom and the foundation by donating here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ccs-challenges?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=LFCCCUK_1DON&mi_u=&mi_ecmp=LFCCCUK_1DON

02/09/2026

Christie Davies, a PhD student working on protein degraders for Clear Cell Sarcoma received the inaugural Julia Hłond Research Prize at the 2026 UCL Cancer Institute conference.

Christie was nominated by fellow PhD students, shortlisted by the faculty, then gave a presentation.

After being given the award by the Director of the Cancer Institute, Professor Gert Attard, Christie said: -

“The award was established in memory of Julia, whose passion for research, collaborative spirit, kindness, and dedication left a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of knowing and working with her. To receive an award that celebrates these qualities is truly humbling.

I am incredibly grateful to those who nominated me and to everyone who felt I embodied the values that this prize represents. Research is rarely an individual effort, and I have been fortunate to work alongside colleagues, mentors, and friends whose generosity, encouragement, and willingness to collaborate have shaped both my work and my development as a scientist at home and the wider globe.

I also want to acknowledge Julia's family. Thank you for allowing her legacy to continue inspiring others through this award. I hope to honour her memory by striving to bring the same spirit of collaboration, perseverance, and support for others that this prize recognises.”

We want to add our congratulations to Christie and thank him for his dedication and the support he has given to the Clear Cell Sarcoma research programme over a number of years.

11/07/2026

For the third year running Linda and Steve are holding a late summer Festival in their garden at the Old Vicarage, Teynham to raise funds for the Ed’s Foundation. The festival will be held on Saturday the 12th September.

Last year raised over £2,500, more than twice the amount raised in the previous year! Let’s see if we can again beat last year’s target!

Ed went to school with Linda’s eldest son Callum and Ed and Linda were always close to one another.

We would again like to thank both Linda and Steve for their ongoing support and thank all who donated so generously.

Please donate via justgiving here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/vicfest2026

10/06/2026

On Thursday the 11th June it will be 9 years since Ed died. In the last message he wrote to us he said: -

“Be brave and remember how much I love you both.”

Please take a moment on Thursday to think of Ed and remember the times you spent with him and the love and fun you shared.

Thank you.

John and Ellie xx

11/05/2026

Chris Completes his 5th Half Marathon of 2026 in Limerick. 🧡

Chris Wheatley completed the 5th of the 12 half-marathons he is running in 2026 - one every month - to raise funds for Clear Cell Sarcoma research and to remember Sharni Ruming, who tragically died of Clear Cell Sarcoma in 2023 at the age of 30.

This month it was the Limerick Half Marathon and the picture shows Chris enjoying a well deserved Guinness afterwards with a group of friends and fellow runners.

With Gift Aid Chris has already raised over £2,500.

Please support Chris in his mammoth challenge by donating here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-wheatley-halfmarathons2026?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

10/05/2026

Ciara Motherway completed the Dublin City Half Marathon on 3rd May and has raised over £5,000 to fund research into Clear Cell Sarcoma at the Cancer Institute, University College London.

Ciara’s middle son, Charlie, was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma two years ago at the age of 10.

Clear Cell Sarcoma is an ultra-rare and aggressive soft tissue cancer that mainly affects young adults. Currently, there are no effective medical treatments.

Charlie has undergone surgery to remove the cancer and is having two years of immunotherapy. Thankfully, he is doing really well. He is currently NED (no evidence of disease), but there remains a high risk of a recurrence, this is why supporting this research is so important to us.

Please support Ciara in raising funds for this incredible cause by donating here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ciarasdublinhalf

23/04/2026

Joe Smith is running 50 miles in the North Downs Pilgrims Way Challenge to raise funds for Ed’s Foundation and to support research into Clear Cell Sarcoma.

The North Downs Way 50 is a 50 mile point to point run along the North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham in Surrey to Knockholt Pound, on the outskirts of London, with a total climb is 5,600 feet.

Help donate on the link below to support Joe in this massive challenge and at the same time help fund research into Clear Cell Sarcoma. The research that the Foundation is funding at University College London is seeking to find a cure for this terrible disease, that mainly affects children and young adults and for which there is no affective treatment at the present time

Joe Smith is running 50 miles in the North Downs Pilgrims Way Challenge to raise funds for Ed’s Foundation and to support research into Clear Cell Sarcoma.

19/04/2026

We have recently set up a Clear Cell Support Group for patients and families 🧡🧡

If you or someone you love has had a diagnosis of Clear Cell Sarcoma, please contact us, we would love to hear from you.

We feel we can help you and you us.

The WhatsApp Clear Cell Sarcoma Support Group hold regular Zoom meetings to keep members in touch with each other and to keep them updated on the latest research developments and to share experiences and be inspired by one another. We will have guest speakers every 6-weeks, who will be announced in advance.

We would love to hear from you:

✉️ [email protected]